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Help & Advice

Here are 11 factors to consider when buying a mattress or bed

1. Mattress Firmness
It must always be supportive — we don't do soggy! We sell mattresses with comfortable lumbar support and beds that remain flat to fully support your mattresses. All our mattresses are double-sided, lasting twice as long as single-sided mattresses — plus they are far more comfortable year after year.

2. Price
Limited budget? Whatever the amount you spend with us, you will always receive better value for your money. The best mattresses you can buy cost a lot less from us.

3. Home trial
A free home trial is the only way you will really know if a mattress suits you. We've been offering free trials for over 17 years. It's a safe and accurate way to know that a mattress suits you. That's what we offer a 10 Week Free Trial that includes our mattresses, beds, and furniture.

4. Free returns
Ours is a money back proposition (as opposed to a forced credit towards other in-store products); complete with our "no quibbles" free return collection. A proper free trial on all our mattresses, beds, and furniture.

5. Built to last 
A mattress can't be "rolled in a box" and give lasting support. All our mattresses are sturdy and reliable, hand made and conveniently delivered into the room of your choice free of charge. 

6. Natural fillers and covers   
None of the sleeping layers within our mattresses include any foams (plastic), latex (rubber) or "cooling gels" (mumbo jumbo for plastic).
They do, however, contain natural mattress covers and fillers that always help you sleep better — that is: cooler in the summer and warm during the winter.

7. Guarantees
Foam and latex mattresses often claim that being tested by machines is a sign of quality. The fact is, the "roller testing" is conducted without the endless hours of body heat endured by any mattress. Within two years, foam and latex mattress layers begin to crumble and lump up due to body heat. The simulated sleep roller tested mattresses have only been tested over a matter of 48 hours with rollers that do not give continuous pressure, unlike a mattress in normal use, which will receive over 24,000 hours of consistent pressure and heat from the human body.
The highly acclaimed tests that are conducted and bragged about by "award winning mattresses", only prove durability in the first short period of a mattress's life. Roller tests actually give very positive results for foam and foam highbred mattress products. Unfortunately, this masks the fact that they deliver very poor quality of support over any reasonable time and that people tend to overheat while sleeping on them.
Our quality mattress springs, fillers, and covers last much longer and deliver a much higher level of the properties required for a good night's sleeping during years, honouring the guarantees that they promise.

8. Health
Asthma, skin allergies, and toxic fungi can be worsened by foam (plastic), as it's nonporous and, therefore, traps air, perspiration, and humidity. In turn, this generates a hot and damp breeding ground for bacteria, especially as our minuscule skin scales do not travel through foams and remain trapped within this toxic breeding ground. This is bad for us and our immediate environment in so many ways.
Virtually all the mattresses made worldwide now use foam layers, but not ours! Latex, particularly "natural latex", is being heavily championed as a foam alternative but it's only minimally better than foam, reflex foam, memory foam, et cetera. Sprung and natural fillers are by far the best choice. (Please read more below.)

9. Hygiene
"Natural latex" is nothing but rubber and it's absolutely not natural. It requires many poisonous and toxic chemicals and chemical processes, delivering the same negative realities as the foam mattresses mentioned above. The myth that it's biodegradable in landfills is also nonsense. Tests have shown that latex takes over 150 years to biodegrade in landfill conditions.

10. Quality
We use only 100% cotton covers, natural fire retardants, proper quality springs, natural porous fillers, and traditional craftmanship.
Our mattresses give years of cool, supportive, and comfortable sleep. The same applies to our sturdy beautiful beds. Built to last using solid wood and ply, the natural finishes are VOCs-safe and protected with a long-lasting quality finish.

11. Beds
Beds are in the 10 Week Free Trial, too! All with free delivery, assembly, and returns (to most of southern UK), saving you up to £128 compared to prices of other retailers' standard beds and mattress full service.

One-to-one video link with us into our display room for more insight into access issues, back aches, etc. here: 'Video Shop With Us'.

 

Collections

Our workshop address is for collections only.

Unit 3B, Ring Way, N11 2UD. 10am to 4pm on weekdays.

We use minimal packaging, so please ensure that any collections are done with your own protective blankets, cardboard, and care at hand.

MATTRESSES

Shopping for a new mattress can be overwhelming — it’s a big decision! Good sleep makes all the difference to our health and well-being. Testing out mattresses in a showroom can help you wheedle out the "soggy and bouncy rejects", but to really know if a mattress is right for you requires actually sleeping on it over time. Our bodies and mind need many nights of sleep to adjust to a properly supportive mattress; sometimes the mattress itself slightly adjusts as the fillers settle in during the first few nights of being slept on.

When you purchase a mattress, you need to experience in the comfort of your own home. So, you really must buy from a highly recognised quality maker who offers a no-nonsense or quibbles "money-back sleep trial" period. There are so many mattress companies claiming all sorts of awards and five-star ratings, but it's always better to see for yourself.

A wholesome, well-made double-sided mattress is heavier as it's double the number of fillers (but not that hard to turn), and certainly gives longer and higher quality support and comfort throughout its life. They are better as they give substance that is maintained as the side of the mattress that's not in use has time to breathe and recover. And the beauty of natural fibres is they recover their natural shape and continue to give good support if they are allowed to breathe and rest. Having dual surfaces wrapped in natural fillers also allows the mattress to maintain coolness in the summer and warmth during the winter.

Warren Evans has achieved non-biased exceptional recognition for quality. Which? asked in 2017 its astute members that had purchased mattresses in the previous five years to grade their experience of the retailer who supplied their mattress in terms of the product range, the ease of delivery, the quality of advice, the value for money, and the service.

Despite being a small independent company, or perhaps because we are just that, the Which? members voted Warren Evans as the UK's best mattress retailer. This comes from people who own and sleep on the product — it is unfettered unbiased feedback. Which? reported that every one of our surveyed customers was happy with their experience. 

BEDS

Our bed frames and slats are made from 100% solid wood and solid ply that is FSC approved. With 45 years of hand making incredibly solid and durable beds that are built to last, we are very proud that they are beautiful and simply attractive, too. All the materials and workmanship in our beds and mattresses is guaranteed for years. With over 1 million products out there, we are truly the connoisseurs of quality handmade beds and mattresses.

 

10 Week Free Trial

Take up to 10 weeks to sleep on your new Warren Evans bed and/or mattress. Give it a proper sleep test and you'll know whether it’s the right fit. If during this time you let us know that it's not right for you, we will arrange the best day for your free collection and a no quibbles full refund or a free exchange and delivery of a different model if you wish. The advantage of the 10 Week Free Trial is not to leave you short of having a place to lay your head while sorting out any issues.

 

FREE REMOVAL & RECYCLING OF THE OLD BEDS OR MATTRESSES WE'RE REPLACING

We will make sure it's all recycled and it's free. We also set up any of your new beds or furniture and mattress in the room of your choice — free, of course! This gives you the chance to save up to £128 compared to prices of other retailers' standard bed and mattress full service.

Our delivery services are free to most areas that we serve. We are happy to wrap, remove, and recycle any bed and mattress that we are replacing for you in your home. You just need to disassemble any bed that we are to take prior to our installation team arriving at yours, as disassembly is not included in our free removal and recycling service. Other furniture cannot be recycled.

* Some of our furthest delivery points have a small delivery surcharge but still include all the free services.

Buying a mattress 101: Which mattress is right for me?

Today’s mattress retailers seem to be in a race to the bottom. Single-sided mattresses, especially memory foam, are flooding the market. Sadly, most consumers don't realise they are paying full price for what is effectively only half the mattress. At the same time, the truly high-quality natural wool and cotton products are marked up astronomically, or sometimes parade latex as a natural healthy sleep surface.

Here are some helpful hints for finding a great mattress and not getting caught out on the price.

Choose a mattress that is built to last

Any quality mattress manufacturer will say that double-sided mattresses last longer. The ability to use both sides allows to have better comfort and support for longer and reduces the effects of wear and tear. Just think: if you always sleep in the same spot, it will inevitably wear out faster. Additionally, pay attention to the finishing techniques employed by the maker. For example, hand-tufted and hand-side-stitched mattresses will help to retain the shape of the mattress while you sit on the edge. This will also stop the fillers sliding and shifting out of place, protect from wear and tear for longer, and be far more comfortable throughout the years.

Our mattresses are all double-sided, and they will see out the term of their guarantee easily. We put over 40 years and nearly a million mattresses of experience into brilliant traditional designs to make them fit for purpose. We also invested more time and money in our mattress designs to be more environmentally friendly. Foams are not biodegradable, as they require replacing more often — they simply add to more pollution and unsustainable waste. Better mattresses last longer and help reduce carbon footprint.

Choose materials that will help regulate body temperature and prevent over or under-heating

For a good restorative night's sleep, you need to be at a comfortable temperature in bed. To fall asleep your brain sends signals to reduce your body temperature and divert energy to important processes designed to help your body and mind to heal and regenerate. As the temperature reductions involved are essential, the ambient temperature in the room and under your covers can greatly impact this process. If your mattress keeps you too hot, the increased body temperature signals to your body it's time to be awake, disrupting the deeper stages of your sleep, causing restless nights, and not being your best self the next day. Your body will also perspire more in an effort to cool itself.

When we are young, the effects of a poor mattress and sleeping environment are less obvious — we abound with energy and it often goes unnoticed. But not achieving a cooling of the body's core temperature interrupts and halts the four to six cycles of deep regenerative sleep that are essential for health and happiness. Age most effectively delivers the message to all of us in the form of illness, exhaustion, depression, and pain.

In particular, this greatly impacts the quality of sleep for women going through cycles, pregnancy, and menopause. If the temperature is too low, your brain redirects heat to protect your core, leaving extremities — like arms and feet — feeling uncomfortably cold. Your body then has to work harder to warm itself, which again sends wrong signals to your brain and disrupts your sleep.

Whoever you are and whatever your circumstances are, temperature regulation is essential for good restorative sleep that rejuvenates the body and mind. Wool is a naturally breathable material that works perfectly to help regulate temperature in mattresses. Its crimped fibres don't align themselves too closely when spun into yarn, making it possible to create a unique textile with air spaces occupying about two thirds of its volume. It effectively creates an air wall to help insulate your body. Wool is also naturally absorbent and, on a molecular level, it literally attracts water molecules within the air and away from you. This process is essential for your body's temperature regulation as wool wicks away the very moisture that your body perspires in order to keep it cool. Simultaneously, this improves your mattress's hygiene and leaves you feeling cool and dry.

Cotton is another one of nature's wonders. It's naturally absorbent, and its irregular fibres create supremely comfortable to touch textile, ideal for a mattress cover. Cotton is also amazing for sensitive skin — so make sure that you chose a mattress with a 100% natural cotton cover.

Know your GSM

This is something that mattress retailers don't want you to know and they either hide it or simply pretend it doesn't exist. GSM stands for "grams per square meter" and it's the standard measure of density in the textile industry. It's the way to compare how much of a good thing is in the mattress. Sadly, a lot of manufacturers place a wafer-thin layer of natural material — like wool, cashmere, silk, or even cotton — on top of a cheap foam and boast of it being a natural mattress for its inclusion. Once you look into this, you will easily discern real quality from the impostors and rip off merchants.

We proudly display all our fillers and their GSM on the product page for your review and compare with genuine competitors.

Choose a spring system designed for support and ventilation

People move in their sleep — in fact, you move in your sleep on average every 28 minutes. It's as natural as breathing, but with the wrong mattress in place it can spell disaster for you and your partner's sleep. Pocket springs and memory foam both work perfectly to mitigate that movement and help you not to disturb your partner. However, pocket springs have a distinct advantage in two key areas: ventilation and responsiveness.

Pocket spring mattresses have hollow spaces inside and in between the springs that allow for air to flow through. As you move naturally in your sleep, the springs compress and relax, pulling air in and out like lungs. This heat exchange process is more pronounced in better mattresses that also have air vents as they promote even faster flow of air, keeping your mattress cool and fresh as you sleep. Advanced designs also utilise micro pocket springs that further help to push air deeper into the sleep fillers and promote freshness and air flow.

Many customers report that they literally feel trapped in memory foam mattresses. While the moulding and contouring sounds great in principle, it creates a very impractical effect for most, moderate discomfort for the elderly who suffer with hips issues, and a very serious potential threat to the very youngest of children who may not be able to turn. Pocket spring mattresses provide a firmer support and work with your body to respond appropriately when you move. Investing a little more into a well-made pocket spring mattress will pay dividends for many years.

Get the biggest mattress that the room allows for

Choosing a double over a king size bed to reclaim a little space in your bedroom may cost you dearly! An adult wouldn't want to sleep on a small single mattress (75 cm/2'6 wide) for very long, but if you consider that each adult in a couple occupying a standard UK double gets to sleep on exactly that, it's no wonder that you are not getting great sleep. Just by increasing 6 inches (15 cm) in the width of the mattress from a 4'6 (135 cm) double to a 5'0 (150 cm) king, shows a massive difference in the quality of sleep when you're sleeping with a partner. It's hard to believe, but we spend a third of our lives in bed and it's important to make sleep comfortable and refreshing so you can get up happy and energised to tackle the remaining two thirds (and whatever life throws at you)!

Consider the aftercare services…

When making a purchase, make sure you consider the reputation of the retailer. Will they deliver on the promises they make at the point of sale? Many companies simply don't offer meaningful guarantees or make it terribly difficult to claim on them. Beware of companies selling you additional protection that in reality should be part of the purchase price. They break up the price of the product and aftercare to show you two smaller amounts that ultimately sum up to more than you should actually be paying but draw you in with a false promise of savings. Read the terms and conditions, compare guarantee terms, and choose the supplier that doesn’t make you jump through hoops to fix a problem. Look into the retailer's returns process and choose one that will work on your terms and won't leave you out of pocket for just trying to get rid of what isn't right for you. Isn't that the best kind of service not to need?

Making great mattresses is an art and we pursue it with a passion. Why don't you fall in love with sleep all over again? >>> Check out our wonderful range of mattresses, beds, and bedroom furniture today!

  • I’ve made a good reputation for my quality products over the past 40 years. Having designed and sold nearly a million beds & mattresses directly to customers has given me a real understanding of what makes a 'perfect sleep' for everyone.

Observer Ethical Awards Presented by Lucy Siegle & Colin Firth

  • Photo of Lucy Siegle, David Attenborough and Colin FirthDavid Attenborough Lifetime achievement award
  • Photo of Lucy Siegle, Warren Evans and Colin FirthWarren Evans Best ethical retailer

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  • "Excellent beds & mattresses, service and delivery."
  • "All the staff were most helpful and the quality of the beds is excellent."
  • "Wonderful customer service to help us find the right bed for our mattress."

...a perfect sleep for everyone

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